MILNE, A.A. (1882-1956). When We Were Very Young. 1924. * Winnie-the-Pooh.1926. * Now We Are Six. 1927. * The House at Pooh Corner. 1928. Decorations by Ernest H. Shepard. London: Methuen & Co., 1924-1928.

Complete set of the first edition Pooh books in dust jackets, each signed by author and illustrator, and two with ORIGINAL DRAWINGS by E.H. Shepard. Each volume is signed "A.A. Milne" and "Ernest H. Shepard" on the title-pages. Additionally Shepard has added vignettes to two title-pages. For The House at Pooh Corner there is a sketch of Pooh gazing up at the title of the book, with Piglet close behind. Unlike the other three, only House at Pooh Corner has no printed vignette on the title-page. For Winnie-the-Pooh, the printed vignette depicts Pooh brushing his fur in front of a mirror. To this, Shepard has added an original sketch of Piglet observing him. A very attractive set.

Together, four volumes, octavo. Illustrated by E.H. Shepard. There are two laid in slips to the last book: one from Methuen advertising the 1929 Christopher Robin Calendar; the other an announcement for the 1928 exhibition of original Shepard drawings at the Sporting Gallery. Original blue, green, red and salmon cloth respectively, pictorially stamped in gilt, plain endpapers in the first title, pictorial endpapers in the rest (mild toning to some pastedowns and inner hinges); pictorial dust jackets (some insect wear to spine panels and flap folds, modest edge-wear, rubbing to spine panels of second and third volumes affecting a few letters). Full morocco clamshell box in four colors and gilt. Provenance: James F. Drake, Inc. (bookseller’s description laid in).